Written Answers Nos. 141-160
141. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the scope of the Transport Working Group under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy which was recently reconvened; if it will include active travel particularly cycling in order to ensure fully inclusive access to transport and mobility for all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5417/22]
View answerThe Transport Working Group established under Action 104 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) met at the end of January this year and was chaired by my colleague Minister Anne Rabbitte. The Transport Working Group was established in 2020 to drive Action 104 of the Strategy but its work was paused to prioritise initial responses to the pandemic, while the work of the main NDIS Steering Group continued.
Action 104 of the NDIS commits that ‘we will lead a review of transport supports encompassing all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities, to enhance the options for transport to work or employment supports for people with disabilities and will develop proposals for development of a coordinated plan for such provision. This plan will have regard to making the most efficient use of available transport resources.’
The Group’s membership is made up of relevant Government Departments and state agencies including the National Disability Authority and the National Transport Authority.
Following engagement with my colleague Minister of Finance Paschal Donohoe T.D. last year, it was decided to use the Transport Working Group to assist in the review of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme.
Active Travel is not an immediate focus of the Transport Working Group but that can be kept under review as the work of the group continues.
142. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress that has been made in relation to implementing the report of the advisory group on the provision of support including accommodation to persons in the international protection process. [4895/22]
View answer160. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made to date on the implementation of the White Paper to End Direct Provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5450/22]
View answer172. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will expedite the implementation of measures identified in the Report of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5411/22]
View answer176. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the process to end the direct provision system. [5158/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 142, 160, 172 and 176 together.
This Government is committed to ending Direct Provision and replacing it with a new International Protection Support Service that has respect for human rights at its core. Almost one year ago, I published a White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service setting out how we intend to achieve this. I am pleased to provide the House with an update on our progress so far.
Accommodation
Under the new system set out in the White Paper, international protection applicants will no longer spend long periods living in congregated settings. Instead, following an initial four month stay in a Reception and Integration Centre, they will move to independent accommodation – in the White Paper this is referred to as ‘Phase Two accommodation’ - in houses and apartments in towns and cities across the country. This represents a major change and my Department is taking the necessary steps to put this new accommodation model in place.
I recently approved an ownership model for this accommodation, under which either Approved Housing Bodies or my Department will be the designated owners of the properties acquired under the new model.
The City and County Management Association has developed and approved a Local Authority allocation key. This key provides for a distribution of Phase Two accommodation across the country and is assisting this Department and the Housing Agency in identifying suitable properties for purchase for Phase Two accommodation.
Again working with the Housing Agency, my Department has recently begun to acquire Phase Two accommodation. I am pleased to say that, under our current rate of progress, we plan to have some of this accommodation ready for applicants to move into later this year. Draft criteria for selecting applicants to move into this accommodation have been presented to the Programme Board for consideration.
Integration
With respect to integration, the House will be aware that the White Paper commits to the principle of 'integration from day one' for all international protection applicants. To this end, my Department is currently developing an Integration Programme. In collaboration with the Local Authorities, we are designing the supports that will be needed at a local level, and the structures required to co-ordinate and deliver them. This will expand the current model of interagency working groups and resettlement and intercultural workers that is in place for the Irish Refugee Protection Programme. The aim is to establish a permanent integration system at local level that will provide support both to programme refugees and to applicants for international protection.
A key enabler for applicants to move into the community and live independently will be the availability of an income support payment. A detailed policy paper for this payment has been drafted and the focus is now on establishing the structures to put the income support payment in place.
Implementation and Monitoring
I have appointed a Programme Board to oversee the transition to the new model. Membership of this board includes officials from relevant Government Departments and agencies, a representative with lived experience of International Protection, representatives of non-governmental organisations working in the area of asylum seeker and refugee integration, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and independent experts in housing and change management. To date, the Board has met on five occasions and its next meeting is scheduled for 17th February.
A three-person External Advisory Group (EAG) has also been established which will provide independent oversight of the reform process contained in the White Paper. Its members are Catherine Day, David Donoghue, and Lorcan Sirr. The EAG has met on two occasions to date.
A dedicated Transition Team has been established in this Department to drive the implementation of the reforms set out in the White Paper. Ending Direct Provision and putting in place the new system with its focus on human rights, on not-for-profit delivery, and on integration from day one, requires a whole-of-Government approach. The Transition Team is therefore working closely with key stakeholders across Government to plan, design, and implement the changes described in the White Paper.
The Transition Team is currently developing a detailed implementation plan. This plan sets out the approach that will be taken to ensure that the new system of international protection is in place by 2024. Currently inputs to this plan are being sought from other key stakeholders who have responsibility for delivering services to International Protection applicants.
Recommendations of Report of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process helped to inform the development of the White Paper and served as the basis from which we are building the new model.
143. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of refugees accepted from the European Union evacuation missions from Afghanistan into the international protection system here; the number of Afghans who have applied separately for international protection since January 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5499/22]
View answerI can confirm that 532 letters of waiver have been granted, which has led to 425 arrivals. This includes 41 refugees accepted from the European Union evacuation missions from Afghanistan.
In relation to the number of Afghans who have applied separately for international protection since January 2020, I would advise that you direct your query to the Minister for Justice who can assist with this matter.
144. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the approach his Department is taking to drafting the next national strategy on women and girls; the focus there will there be on violence against women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5101/22]
View answer155. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the approach that his Department will be taking to the drafting of the next national strategy on women and girls; if the strategy will focus on the issue of violence against women; if so, if this will complement the forthcoming third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5315/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 155 together.
The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” includes a commitment that the Government will develop and implement a new National Strategy for Women and Girls, which provides a whole-of-Government framework through which women’s empowerment continues to be advanced.
The National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2021 was developed in consultation with stakeholders, and the process included consultation with civil society and with the public.
I will work with stakeholders to examine what has been achieved over the term of the National Strategy for Women and Girls and consider how we can bring forth the next iterations of the suite of national equality strategies and ensure they are even more robust and effective. In this regard, my Department has commissioned a study to evaluate the processes for implementation of three equality strategies, which includes the National Strategy for Women and Girls as well as the Migrant Integration Strategy and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy.
Consultations in regard to the successor strategy will commence during 2022.
Safety and combating violence against women featured in the vision and as a high-level objective of the 2017 Strategy. This goal was advanced through measures complementing the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, coordinated by the Department of Justice.The Government continues to take a cross departmental approach to combating domestic sexual and gender-based violence, including violence against women and girls, and to providing a comprehensive range of supports for victims of such violence.
My Department is currently developing proposals for the introduction of Domestic Violence Leave to enable persons experiencing domestic violence to have time off work, including to attend court to secure orders against the person perpetrating such violence.
145. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Joint Labour Committee has met; and the progress being made. [5323/22]
View answerThe establishment of a Joint Labour Committee for Early Years Services in late 2021 is a significant and welcome development. As the Deputy is aware, its establishment follows a process of engagement with relevant stakeholders that I began in December 2020. I know that the move to establish the Committee has been welcomed by both union and employer representatives.
In line with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Acts, the Joint Labor Committee is independent in its functions, and neither I nor my officials have a role in its statutory processes. Should the Joint Labour Committee formulate proposals for an Employment Regulation Order, it will publish a notice confirming the matter and seeking representations.
The Secretary to the Joint Labour Committee has advised that the Committee has met on three occasions to date.
147. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his Department’s position on the fact that there is only one intake per year for the ECCE scheme some children can only avail of one year due to their birth date; his plans to return to two intakes per year to ensure a just system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5435/22]
View answerWhen first introduced, the ECCE Programme was delivered over 38 weeks in a given ECCE Programme Year and children were required to be between the ages of 3 years and 2 months and 4 years and 7 months in September in the year they enrolled.
The entry age has since been decreased on two occasions, the first in 2016, when it was reduced from 3 years and 2 months to 3 years of age and the number of hours a child could avail of was expanded. The second reduction was in 2018 whereby the number of points at which a child could become eligible for ECCE was reduced down to one (September) and the age of eligibility was further reduced.
A child must now have turned 2 years and 8 months on or before the 31st August of a given programme year in order to be eligible (and cannot turn 5 years and 6 months during the programme year). This has allowed children to avail of a full two years of ECCE. This change was based on national experience and a review of international practice. It also had regard to the regulatory environment for early years education and care in this country and issues such as child development readiness and adult-child ratios. This has now allowed children to avail of a full two years of ECCE.
There is no situation in which a child is only entitled to one year of ECCE and the current arrangements ensure that all children have the same entitlement, unlike the 3 entry point system. It should also be noted that whilst there is one point at which the child becomes eligible, they can enter ECCE at any time during the 2 year cycle.
I would note that my Department will commence a 12 month review of ECCE this year which will consider whether ECCE is meeting its objectives and subject to the findings consider whether any changes need to be made. As part of this review, there will be a wide stakeholder engagement.
148. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total capital spend in 2021 in providing grant aid to assist in the upgrading of existing childcare facilities and the provision of new facilities; the level of funding allocated for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5405/22]
View answer150. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to improve the level of grant aid available in 2022 towards the provision of new childcare accommodation and the upgrading of existing facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5406/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 150 together.
The works eligible for capital funding are determined by my Department on an annual basis, having regard to the needs of children, families and providers, and to Departmental priorities.
During the 2021 budgetary process, an initial €8.3m was provided for capital funding. A further €2.2m was secured in capital carryover bringing total capital funding available to €10.5m in 2021. The upgrading of the fire safety measures in existing early learning and childcare services was the key objective of the 2021 Capital Programme, with €10.5 million available funding.
The first tranche of capital grants were assigned in May 2021 to existing services to improving fire safety standards. Service providers were invited to apply for funding to carry out remedial works, with a total of €5 million of the €10.5 million budget being claimed by 638 services.
The remaining capital funding of €5.5million was made available to all registered early learning and childcare services to enable them to encourage more outdoor play. Eligible expenditure included shelters and play equipment. Outdoor play enables children to explore and engage with the natural world, while being a simple and effective method of infection control.
During 2021, my Department successfully secured €70m in the revised National Development Plan (NDP) allocation. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare during 2023-2025. Investment under the NDP will consist of three pillars: Modernisation, New Capacity and First 5 Initiatives.
Capital funding has been reduced in 2022 to €0.5m as my Department focusses on the preparation of distribution of NDP funding from 2023 onwards. This will include setting eligibility criteria, designing and developing the application process, and establishing approval criteria. This 2022 allocation is for Childminding and Parent and Toddler Groups, who maintain 2021 allocations. In addition, my Department has secured some €750k of unspent 2021 capital funding which will be carried into 2022. This funding will be made available to provide financial assistance to providers to comply with fire safety regulations.
149. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of Ireland’s initial State report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities submitted in November 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5444/22]
View answerIreland ratified the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2018. Ireland’s Initial State Report under Article 35 of the Convention was formally submitted to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by Ireland’s Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on the 8th of November 2021. The report gives an article by article account of how the Convention is being implemented in Ireland.
The report will now be considered by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Ireland will be invited to appear before a future meeting of the Committee to discuss the report. I do not have an indication, at this time, as to when the review may take place.
151. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if local authorities and the county childcare committees can play a more active role in promoting action which meets gaps in early childhood services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5317/22]
View answerThe City and County Childcare Committees (CCC) were assigned by the National Childcare Strategy (2000) as the key local component in the development of a co-ordinated approach to supporting the delivery of high-quality early learning and childcare. There are 30 CCC, located nationwide, who are funded by my Department to provide support and guidance to local early learning and childcare providers and to familes accessing these services.
In 'First 5, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families', my Department committed to completing a comprehensive review of the operating model for ELC and SAC. The work of CCC was in scope of this review, in addition to the work of other organisations in the operating model.
The ELC and SAC sector in Ireland has grown substantially in the past decade. The objective of the Review is to ensure that the operating model is fit for purpose to implement policy relating early learning and childcare to the scale and standards required in an evolving and expanding sector, with the citizens of Ireland at its heart as core beneficiaries.
An independent external contractor has been engaged by my Department to undertake an assessment of the current operating mode and to identify options for reform. An Oversight Group, chaired by my Department, was also established and met regularly throughout the process.
I am pleased to report that this Review has concluded and a report on the Review is being finalised. I look forward to bringing this report to Government very shortly.
152. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when Tusla’s review of the provision of accommodation for victims of domestic violence will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5429/22]
View answerI informed the Deputy in December 2021 that Tusla’s review to which she refers is completed. I had intended that it would have been published in January. I intend to submit a joint Memorandum for the Information of the Government with my colleague Minister Mc Entee on the matter shortly, at which time Tusla will publish the Review.
Tusla’s Accommodation Review has examined the current level of refuge provision, evidence of demand for services, unmet need and the proximity to refuge by local communities. The Review has made a number of recommendations on the location of refuge facilities, funding and future configuration of services that will support the needs of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV).
A draft of the Review has been shared with all stakeholders on the Monitoring Committee of the 2nd national DSGBV strategy.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has agreed that the Department of Justice will be the lead Department with responsibility for responding to DSGBV. On 18 January, I met with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice to discuss this integrated and dedicated response to DSGBV and to ensure prompt advancement of actions to address this issue. Earlier this week we met with Opposition leaders to further discuss this important matter.
I am committed to ensuring that the findings of the Review will inform the approach to refuge provision and will also inform the strategic actions under the forthcoming Third National Strategy on DSGBV.
153. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of SAR requests received by his Department seeking personal information contained in the Mother and Baby Homes Commission archive; the number of those that were successfully responded to; the number of those that relied upon information contained in the database that was preserved by Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters) Records, and Another Matter Act 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5431/22]
View answerOn 28 February 2021, with the dissolution of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation, my Department became the data controller for all the personal data contained in the records and databases that transferred from the Commission.
My Department is responsible for fulfilling data subject rights, including the right of access to personal data. I am very mindful of the importance to people who were born in Mother and Baby Homes of access to their personal data.
My Department is committed to meeting its obligations as a data controller when dealing with Subject Access Requests (SARs) and is responding on a case by case basis to individuals in accordance with the requirements of GDPR.
As of Friday, the 28th of January 2022, my Department received 492 SARs relating to the Mother and Baby Homes archive and responded to 431 of these.
The Mother and Baby Home database of residents of the Institutions compiled by the Commission was searched in respect of SARs that were validated which included verification of the identity of the requestor.
While the archive is largely a digital one, some physical records also transferred to the Department on the dissolution of the Commission. Individuals were previously advised that where physical records relating to them were retrieved following searches of the records, they would be provided with copies of the records. The physical records continue to be catalogued by the Department’s archivist. Searches of the physical records are being conducted as may be appropriate in the circumstances of each request. Records retrieved are provided to individuals as previously advised to them in correspondence relating to their SAR.
154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children throughout the country by region who are currently in need of or in receipt of support from his Department or agencies thereunder who are or are not within daily supervision which they may need; if his Department can monitor the situation to ensure that all vulnerable children can rely on the intervention and protection of the State for any reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5342/22]
View answerThe Children First Act 2015 places a number of statutory obligations on specific groups of professionals and on particular organisations providing services to children. Children’s First Guidance 2017 includes information on the statutory obligations for those individuals and organisations under the Act. It also sets out the best practice procedures that should be in place for all organisations providing services to children.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection and welfare services. If I, or my officials, become aware of a situation in which a child is considered to be vulnerable, that concern is communicated to Tusla as a matter of urgency.
If a child appears to be at risk of harm or neglect, the concerns should be reported to Tusla. Anyone can report a concern about a child to Tusla, and information on how to do so is available on the Tusla website. If a child is at immediate risk or in danger, An Garda Síochána (AGS) should be alerted without delay.
Tusla acts urgently on notification of an immediate risk to a child. Children who are in a situation of immediate risk may initially be dealt with by AGS or by Tusla, but in the main both agencies work together in such cases. Referrals to Tusla increased by 8% in 2021.
Tusla has an out of hours emergency number for AGS which provides advice to the AGS based on the circumstances and also can identify where a child is listed on the Child Protection Notification System. There is a 24/7 'out of hours' social work team available in Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare and Cork and on call social workers in other areas. Tusla has a network of emergency foster care placements for children in need of emergency care out of hours.
Gardaí have specific powers under Section 12 of the Child Care Act to remove a child from a situation of danger, and under Section 13 of that same act, to deliver that child into the custody of Tusla. Tusla will at that point carry out an assessment to determine the child's needs. This may in some cases include applying for an Emergency Care Order. In all cases, a plan will be put in place to ensure that the child is safe from harm. Where a child is already in care, Tusla will make a determination as to whether the child is safe in their placement or if they need to be moved.
Where a referral to Tusla outlines a welfare concern, Tusla can respond directly or refer the child and family to a family support services in the locality.
The Deputy is seeking information on the number of children throughout the country by region who are currently in need of or in receipt of support. I have asked Tusla to consider the Deputy's request from a child welfare and protection perspective and to respond to the Deputy directly as appropriate.
156. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to address high childcare costs. [5161/22]
View answer181. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of his plans to reduce the cost of childcare for ordinary families. [5365/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 181 together.
The recommendations of an Expert Group to develop a new funding model for early learning and childcare were adopted by Government in December. This marks a new departure in State funding of the sector and is a significant step towards ensuring high-quality, affordable, sustainable and accessible services.
The Expert Group report informed the transformative package of measures for the sector committed in Budget 2022, including the Core Funding stream. Core Funding will operate from September 2022 to support improved quality, affordability, and sustainability.
Core Funding will be worth up to €69 million in 2022, equivalent to €207 million in a full year. It will require a commitment not to increase fees to parents from September 2021 rates. This feature of the scheme will ensure that parents feel the full affordability benefits of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and the Early Childhood Care and Education programme.
Since the start of the pandemic, my Department has been aiming to ensure the sustainability of services and prevent the additional costs from public health measures being passed on to parents. These efforts have been successful and average costs to parents have not increased. ELC and SAC employers will continue to benefit from the exemption to the turnover rule for the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) until April 2022.
From the end of EWSS to the start of Core Funding in September 2022, a Transition Fund will be available to providers. This is also contingent on an agreement not to increase fees from September 2021 levels.
The introduction of fee control measures is one of the recommendations of the Expert Group, and further information on proposed fee management mechanisms in the longer term is available in the Group's report.
Budget 2022 also announced an extension in the age of children who are eligible for the universal NCS subsidy and a change to how 'wraparound hours' for NCS subsidy are determined. These measures were also recommended by the Expert Group.
The fee management system, in tandem with developments to the NCS will together deliver significantly improved affordability for parents.
Budget 2022 began the implementation of the Expert Group’s recommendations. Full implementation of all recommendations will be progressed in the coming years as additional funding is secured through the annual Estimates process.
157. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports that his Department has made available to support the Traveller and Roma community in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5447/22]
View answerThe National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2017 – 2021 (NTRIS) represents a whole of Government approach to bring about meaningful change and progress for the Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland. It brings Government Departments and Agencies together along with representatives of both Traveller and Roma communities to bring a focus to the issues which affect them most in a structured way.
The NTRIS Steering Committee, which I chair, will continue to meet in 2022 to report on actions progressed and to consult on the development of a successor strategy.
As the Deputy will be aware, funding for Traveller and Roma initiatives is provided by a number of Government Departments.
Under NTRIS, I secured a budget of €5.659m for 2022 which is an increase of €734,000 over the 2021 allocation. In addition, €880,000 in Dormant Account funding has been secured, an increase of €180,000 over the previous year.
My Department has provided additional funding and other supports to our partner Traveller organisations for the continued provision of necessary services during the COVID-19 crisis to the Traveller and Roma population, including in appropriate languages.
School attendance is a specific challenge for some members of the Traveller and Roma communities. My Department is working with the Department of Education and is providing funding for a pilot programme in four locations across the country, which trials a new approach to addressing barriers to education in Traveller and Roma communities regionally. The pilots have been extended to the end of 2022 due to the pandemic.
My Department also funds the Special Initiative for Travellers (SIT) to provide support for practical approaches to redressing the imbalance in Traveller under-employment, to support Travellers already engaged in the Traveller economy and provide other supports, including training, to address the needs of Travellers. The SIT funding includes support workers and assistance for employment and enterprise development.
Significant funding is provided by my Department to support the work of the Traveller Mediation Service and the Traveller Counselling Service.
My Department is working to advance projects that increase the visibility of Traveller culture and heritage. Funding is provided to a number of cultural initiatives including an allocation of €100,000 for Traveller Pride Week to empower national, regional and local organisations to celebrate Traveller and Roma culture and diversity. A project is also being progressed with the National Museum of Ireland to develop an online portal to the Traveller Culture collections.
My Department supports a number of projects which specifically address the needs of Roma. for example, funding is provided to Cáirde to establish a group of Roma women as peer advocates within their community. The project aims to provide training, development of skills in literacy, basic computer skills and develop links between participants and relevant services and supports.
158. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports in place for early years providers that continue to experience severe sustainability issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5441/22]
View answerSupport is available to services with sustainability concerns through a Case Management process. My Department oversees this process through which local City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and Pobal work together to assess early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services experiencing difficulties and provide support as necessary. Pobal co-ordinate the overall case management process with the CCC administering on-the-ground case management assistance. This can include help with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.Normally financial supports accessed through the Case Management process, are only available for community (not-for-profit) services presenting with sustainability issues following a financial assessment by Pobal. However, a COVID-19 Impact Support funding strand is currently available to both community not-for-profit and private for-profit services. The funding will be available on a rolling basis throughout 2022 for eligible ELC and SAC services that require further financial assistance in addition to current support measures available and others that will be available throughout the year.The CCC should be the first point of contact for any service seeking support; I would therefore urge any ELC or SAC service in difficulty to contact their local CCC as soon as possible.
159. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to address child poverty. [5160/22]
View answer162. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to establish a dedicated child poverty unit in his Department to combat child poverty in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5415/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 162 together.
The Deputy will be aware that the Department of Social Protection leads on the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 – 2025, aimed at reducing poverty and improving social inclusion. Under the Roadmap, a new child poverty target is being agreed.
Relevant Officials are in contact with regard to a new target for child poverty under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion, and identifying a programme of work to address child poverty under the successor framework to Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures – currently under development. In this regard I have also scheduled a meeting with Minister O’Brien this month to further this work.
As Deputies will know, addressing Child Poverty was identified as a priority action under Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures and it will remain a priority in the successor framework being developed by my Department.
My Department actively engages with colleagues across government in our efforts to tackle child poverty, and will continue to prioritise family leave, early learning and care, and child centred family support services.
Of course as Minister for Children, I am committed to contributing in any way I can to the Government’s efforts to tackle child poverty, and in Budget 2022 I secured an additional €84m to help address and counter child poverty. This funding is additional to my Department's significant annual spending on youth services and on supports for children and young people, with almost €640m being spent on child care support programmes and almost €900m allocated to Tusla for services to deliver better outcomes for all our children, and particularly for those most at risk and vulnerable.
I believe that significant advancements can be made through my Department’s coordination of the EU Child Guarantee, an important initiative which aims to combat social exclusion by guaranteeing access for children who are in need of a range of key services.
I will publish our National Action Plan for the Child Guarantee by March 2022. The commitments under the Guarantee address critical matters such as free access to early childhood education and care; education; healthcare for children in need; healthy nutrition including a healthy meal each school day; and adequate housing.
Tackling child poverty and effectively implementing the Child Guarantee will require the commitment and active and sustained participation of my colleagues across government to ensure it is collaborative, integrated and, ultimately, impactful.
As part of the EU Child Guarantee process, and in developing the successor national policy Framework to Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, I will be engaging with my cabinet colleagues to consider the most appropriate and effective structures to pursue the reforms necessary to improve outcomes for our most disadvantaged children and young people.
In terms of child poverty focused structures, I have an open mind on how best to address this complicated issue though at this time I have no plans to introduce a child poverty unit. That said, my Department has established a new EU and International Unit which, among other responsibilities, will lead on the coordination across Government of the necessary actions emerging from the EU Child Guarantee. This will enable us to pursue a coherent agenda in relation to child poverty.
